The 2015 Biennial Conference of the Middle
Atlantic Folklife Association will hosted by Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ
on March 27-28. As a joint meeting, MAFA will partner with the Eastern American
Studies Association for a research-oriented conference themed "Land and
Sea — Geography, Economy, and Culture in the American Experience."
Although the organizers hope to see a number of proposals that address the
theme, any topic covering American folklore and folklife is welcome. Both
university and public folklorists are strongly encouraged to attend.

Please see the official Call for Papers
below:

This year, MAFA will be partnering with the
Eastern American Studies Association to hold a joint conference. The location
of this year's meeting — Rowan University in New Jersey — provides a vantage
from which to view diverse features of the Eastern United States. Looking to
the east is the Atlantic Ocean and the famous "Jersey Shore.” Although many
people know the "Shore” for its popular entertainments, beauty contests, and
gambling, it also has a longstanding maritime folk culture, including the craft
of the renowned Jersey Skiff, in addition to the east of the "Pine Barrens”
that attracted studies of its residents known as "Pineys” by the American
Folklife Center. To the west is the Delaware River and the Philadelphia
metropolitan area. Glassboro, the home of Rowan University, is historically
connected to early American manufacturing — the renowned "Glass Works in the
Woods” that has led some scholars to view the Delaware Valley as the cradle of American
industrialism. Yet southern New Jersey is also known for being a leading
producer of fresh fruits and vegetables, including cranberries, blueberries,
tomatoes, and escarole/endive. The varied landscape facilitates identities
often by occupational and recreational communities. Evidence of its crossroads
reputation is the Glassboro Summit in 1967 between President Lyndon Johnson and
Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin, with the Glassboro site chosen because it is
equidistant between New York and Washington, D.C.

Against the backdrop of this geographic
crossroads, the program committee invites papers, forums, and sessions that
explore the connections of geography, economy, and culture in the American
experience. The committee is interested not only in historical and cultural
analyses of social adaptation to the landscape but also in organizational
efforts to interpret, conserve, and enhance community identities, public
heritage, and folk traditions. These studies need not be limited to New Jersey —
they can include the Atlantic World. In sum, this conference will explore the
local, regional, and global patterns and exchanges that contribute to the
distinctive eastern American mix of land and sea. As always, MAFA is open to
papers and panels on any topic of American folklore and folklife, including
those which do not fit under the conference theme.

Submission Guidelines: Individual Papers:
Send a short abstract (no more than 500 words) and a brief CV or resume of no more
than two pages.

Full Panels: Send a cover sheet with the
title of the panel, the names of each participant, and the titles of their
presentations. Include a short abstract of each paper (no more than 500 words)
as well as a CV or resume of no longer than two pages for each panel
participant.

All materials should be sent to Christie
Briley at czb5178@psu.edu
before January 9, 2015. Graduate students whose proposals are accepted will be
encouraged to submit their final papers electronically several weeks prior to
the conference if they wish to be considered for the Simon J. Bronner Award for
the outstanding graduate paper in American Studies.